The next big business trend that we are going to see, and that is happening already, is not only that aboriginal businesses are going to be stronger components of the corporate supply chain, but we are also going to see them as stronger proponents of equity positions and actual partners within resource projects.

JP Gladu of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business discusses native participation in resource industries...Read More

While campaigning on behalf of the doomed merger with Denison Mines TSX:DML last July, Fission Uranium TSX:FCU chairperson/CEO Dev Randhawa defended the proposal by saying, “One of the things I run into when I go to Asia is they say I’m too small.” But on December 21 the company announced a letter of intent for an $82.22-million private placement from a Hong Kong-listed uranium trader, CGN Mining Company Ltd. Its controlling shareholder is China Uranium Development Company Ltd, a subsidiary of the energy utility China General Nuclear Power Corp. The deal would leave CGN with 19.99% of Fission.

The $82-million deal would give a Chinese company nearly 20% of the Triple R deposit.

Randhawa called it “the first time a Chinese company has invested directly in a Canadian uranium company.” The parties also pledged to work towards an offtake agreement.

They hope to close by January 29. Among the requirements are approvals from the TSX, CGN shareholders, the Hong Kong exchange and the Chinese government. Should either party back out or CGN fail to win approvals by February 29, a $3-million break fee takes effect.

CGN would nominate two directors to Fission’s board, which would grow from seven to nine members.

Last June the Canadian government approved Australia-headquartered Paladin Energy’s (TSX:PDN) ownership of the proposed Michelin mine in Labrador, relaxing a 1987 policy that requires at least 51% Canadian ownership of uranium mines. The policy doesn’t apply to exploration and development projects.

Fission’s Patterson Lake South project, just outside Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin, reached PEA in September with numbers that the company said makes its Triple R deposit potentially one of the world’s lowest-cost uranium producers. Last week the company fended off dissident shareholders to elect its management slate to the board.

Fission’s next-door neighbour hasn’t done badly in financing either. Last month NexGen Energy TSXV:NXE announced a $20-million bought deal, which followed a $23.74-million private placement that closed in May. The Arrow zone of the company’s Rook 1 project has its maiden resource scheduled for H1 2016.

This article was posted by Greg Klein - Resource Clips on Monday, December 21st, 2015 at 10:24 am.